Clearly, most of you are dead. Or, I am dead. One of those two things is true.
Anyway, how about some Shocking Stupidity? Anyone? Anyone? Good. Here we go.
The scenario: Shopping mercantile of sorts, a customer is busily perusing a store's goods. Customer happens upon a blanket emblazoned with the seal of a high school his daughter will graduate from in mere months. Customer thinks that the blanket would make a lovely Christmas present. Customer buys blanket from store owner, paying exactly what the store owner says the blanket costs, no more and no less. You know, like anytime you buy ANYTHING from a store.
The next week: Customer receives a phone call from the store owner. Store owner asks customer if he purchased a school logo-emblazoned blanket from her the previous week. Customer answers in the affirmative. Store owner proceeds to inform customer that oops! She accidentally priced the blankets wrong. The customer actually underpaid for the blanket by a good $20. Store owner advises customer that he should come into the store as soon as possible to pay her what he "owes" on the blanket. Store owner suggests that he might want to just use a credit card over the phone? It might be easier. Customer assumes store owner is joking. He is sadly mistaken.
Customer replies that he paid exactly what the store owner was asking for the blanket, and that if she "mis-priced" the item, then might it be her fault? Just maybe? Store owner tosses back an insult about how wealthy she knows he is, and how she can't believe he would "stiff" her for the $20. Doesn't he want to pay what he owes? Does he not pay his debts? Customer replies that he will neither pay the extra $20 nor visit the store owner's shop again. Ever.
I heard this story today when the estranged customer came into my store to buy some Christmas clothing for his wife. A lot of it. He's come in several times since I've owned the store, and has mentioned that he only came back when he learned someone else was running things, but I never knew why.
What's really unbelievable is that this lady was like, making a freaking killing when we bought the business from her. Weird, right? Oh wait, no. No, that's not it. Oh yeah, she was TOTALLY GOING BANKRUPT.
Because with customer service skills like that, you can't go wrong.
ohmahGAWD!! that is so not right!it's people like that that reinforce my dream of being a hermit on sme far-off mountain range.
Posted by: Valerie | December 15, 2006 at 07:15 AM
That is unbelievable. Actually, wait, sadly enough, it is totally believable. People have gotten so bizarre. And not in a good way.
How are party plans going? I just went to a thing last night, not an actual party, but there was food, and got recipes for a fantastic chutney dip, and crostini with sundried tomatoes and goat cheese spread. Mucho yummo. I am willing to share if desired. mk
Posted by: markira | December 15, 2006 at 07:18 AM
HA! That's awesome! I just love stories about that crazy lady!
Posted by: Allison | December 15, 2006 at 10:10 AM
one time there was a military jacket that i was going to buy. the only problem is that is was $80, and for me, a guy, i couldn't bring myself to spend that on clothes. so i waited. one day i saw a sign that said "50% off all outerwear"! I thought, "ah perfect". I went in to purchase said jacket only to discover that, before the sale began, they had marked the same jacket up to $160.
i can't say whether or not this is particularly relevant to your story, but i know that it's not NOT relevant. hmm...
Posted by: kyle | December 15, 2006 at 12:56 PM
unbelievable.....
Dan and I went into a store yesterday, as we walked in the owner said " Oh great, all day I sit around and not a customer, as soon as I start the window, in they come, I may as well forget it all"
To which we said
" Carry on with your damn window, perhaps you should ask yourself why you get no customers all day!" and walked out.
Posted by: Helen | December 15, 2006 at 01:06 PM
I love it when you regale us with stories of the Former Shop-Owner from Hell! That's so unbelievable...
Posted by: Cassie | December 15, 2006 at 07:26 PM
oh my, and you had no idea this is what you were getting into when you bought it? that is the Crazee, for sure.
Posted by: janet | December 18, 2006 at 12:30 AM
OK, it's Monday. I must know. How did the party go? mk
Posted by: markira | December 18, 2006 at 07:54 AM
Oh my god--really? Is that really a true story? Because it is AWESOME.
Posted by: Alexa | December 18, 2006 at 09:37 AM
Last winter, my mother-in-law was shopping at a chichi boutique here in OKC when she came across a St. John suit marked $125.00. Which just seemed . . . wrong.
So she asked the saleswoman, who found a manager, who said . . .
"Our mistake. So sorry." And sold her the suit, which was SUPPOSED to be marked $1,250.00 for . . .
$125.00. Now THAT'S customer service. Also dumb luck.
Posted by: Susan | December 19, 2006 at 10:41 PM
Are you there? IS it over yet? Can you put your feet up and have an egg nog or whatever you people in the US do when it is christmas? I somehow feel I am missing out having never had egg nog. Have a great one, hope everything is blissfully christmassy and peaceful for you. Helen.
Posted by: Helen | December 23, 2006 at 03:49 AM
Every time I think people and their stupidity can't surprise me any more...I get surprised again.
Posted by: wordgirl | December 26, 2006 at 11:25 PM